Tag: 2024 nba playoffs first round

Miami Heat team president Pat Riley criticizes Jimmy Butler’s comments about the Boston Celtics

Riley related that he could not initially tell if Butler was joking.

Fans of the Miami Heat were absolutely eating it up when star Heat forward Jimmy Butler talked some serious smack about the Boston Celtics and how his presence might impact their 2024 Eastern Conference first round series, implying Miami would have won the 2024 first round series had he been healthy enough to play.

But that little diatribe from Butler did not go over very well with the Heat President of Basketball Operations Pat Riley, who called out his star forward in a recent video put together by the team. “If you’re not on the court, playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut and your criticism against those two teams (to yourself)” said the Miami executive.

In fact, Riley related that he could not initially tell if Butler was joking. But the breach of team etiquette was egregious enough for the former Los Angeles Lakers legend that he felt the need to address it in public.

Safe to say that most fans of the Celtics find themselves in the unusual position of agreeing with Riles.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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The NBA’s Eastern Conference Playoffs are the Boston Celtics’ to lose

One can very easily make the case that the Celtics are their own biggest potential obstacle.

The NBA’s Eastern Conference Playoffs are the Boston Celtics’ to lose. Or at least they ought to be, so long as the Celtics take care of the ball club in front of them all the way to the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals and arguably beyond it.

One can very easily make the case that the Celtics are their own biggest potential obstacle to getting back to the NBA finals. Or at least their tendency to not bring their very best in the league’s postseason in a very predictable manner before now has been. The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast, Adam Kaufman and Evan Valenti, sat down with NBC Sports Boston’s Drew Carter on a recent episode to talk it over.

They talk about if the Celtics-Heat first-round playoff match-up, if Joe Mazzulla is a good coach, and whether or not it matters if the path to the Finals is easy. Check it out below.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Boston Celtics’ defense tortured the Miami Heat

Gone were the days of a Heat zone giving the Celtics fits.

The Boston Celtics’ defense tortured the Miami Heat in their 2024 NBA Eastern Conference first round series. Gone were the days of a Heat zone giving the Celtics fits, replaced instead by a hybrid approach from Boston that seemed to give Miami similar problems this time around.

And compared to prior series going 6 or even 7 games, that the Celtics got it done in a gentleman’s sweep of a mere 5 games tells you everything you need to know about how ultimately effective it really was. The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look at the team’s defense vs. Miami on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip below to hear what they had to say!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Best moments from Mike Gorman’s last call with the Boston Celtics

It was a fitting win to send the Voice of the Celtics into a retirement we don’t expect will have him too far from the team.

Famed broadcaster of the Boston Celtics, our beloved Mike Gorman has called it a career after 43 years of calling games for the Celtics, the vast majority of which he did so with Boston Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn. In the Celtics’ Game 5 blowout win over the Miami Heat this past Wednesday (May 1) night, Gorman did his final call with current broadcast partner Brian Scalabrine.

While it might not be on par with some of the most scintillating moments of Gorman’s broadcast history, it was a fitting win to send the Voice of the Celtics into a retirement we don’t expect will have him too far from the team.

The folks over at NBC Sports Boston put together a highlight clip of the best moments of Gorman’s last call.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Boston Celtics have sent the Miami Heat packing

Now that we’ve had a full 24 hours to digest what we saw in the series against the Heat, what comes to mind?

The Boston Celtics have sent the Miami Heat packing in Game 5 of their 2024 Eastern Conference first round series, getting revenge for their 2023 East Finals loss to Miami. Now that we’ve had a full 24 hours to digest what we saw in the series against the Heat, what comes to mind when you think back on the Celtics’ round 1 series win over Miami?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “First to the Floor” podcast, Jake Issenberg, Ben Vallis, and Wayne Spooney, got together to give you a very Heat-centric Schadenfreude Report. They also make the argument for and against the potential Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers second round matchups.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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How the Boston Celtics canceled Heat culture

Don’t mistake it for greatness, because as good as it can make mediocre role players look, it won’t help you hang a banner.

The Boston Celtics have canceled Heat culture after beating the Miami Heat 118-84 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first round series at TD Garden this past Wednesday (May 1) night. With a modicum of revenge for their defeat at the hands of Miami in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics have exposed Heat culture for what it really is: hype.

A very good coach, a few good players and a lot of meh ones playing hard to the point of riding the line of dirty play can make for some scrappy narratives it’s easy to root for. But don’t mistake it for greatness, because as good as it can make mediocre role players look, it won’t help you hang a banner.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, Alex Goldberg, Cameron Tabatabaie, and Justin Quinn, did their postmortem on the Heat series while looking ahead to the next round. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jayson Tatum on the Boston Celtics mindset heading into their series vs. the Miami Heat

Sometimes, coming into a situation with the right mindset can make all of the difference in the world.

Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum knows the Miami Heat like the back of his hand at this point. Speaking to the media after beating the Heat in Game 5 of their 2024 Eastern Conference first round series via CLNS Media, Tatum opened up about how he felt going into the series vs. the team that ended his club’s season in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. “I think it’s like my fourth time in five years playing in the playoffs,” explained the St. Louis native.

“I was thinking when they were trying to figure out the standings in the last week or so, I just had it in my mind we were going to play Miami,” Tatum remarked. “I wanted to play Miami in a sense, maybe last year playing against Atlanta we might have relaxed a little bit.”

“Knowing the history with Miami and how they play and how well coached they are, for a first-round matchup regardless of the seed, we were going to have to be ready to play, be ready to fight.”

And, apart from an embarrassing Game 2 loss to the Heat in this series, the Celtics came out and handled their business and Miami’s physicality as well as anyone could have asked.

Sometimes, coming into a situation with the right mindset can make all of the difference in the world.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Boston Celtics exorcise the demons of their 2023 East Finals loss to the Miami Heat

“They probably had something to motivate them even more against us,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

The Boston Celtics have officially exorcised any of their lingering demons of their 2023 Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Miami Heat in their 118-84 blowout Game 5 victory over the Heat on this past (May 1) Wednesday night.

“They probably had something to motivate them even more against us,” said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra to the media postgame via the Associated Press, alluding to the Heat’s role in ending Boston’s season last year. Now, the Celtics move on to wait for the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers – Orlando Magic series as their opponent for the league’s 2024 East semifinals.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast, Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon, Jimmy Toscano, A. Sherrod Blakely and John Zannis, shared their thoughts on the win postgame. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Did the Boston Celtics prove their toughness vs. the Miami Heat?

Have they really proven they can play tough when called on to play that way?

The Boston Celtics have rightly been known for some time as a finesse team, using skill and athleticism to beat their opponents instead of brute force, physicality, and toughness. But the Celtics have found themselves especially vulnerable to ball clubs with the latter archetype, necessitating a bit of iron sharpening iron on their part.

And it seems to be paying off, with Boston able to repel the Miami Heat‘s tough, physical style of play to win their 2024 NBA Eastern Conference first round series vs. the Heat in a 118-84 Game 5 win this past Wednesday (May 1) night. But have they really proven they can play tough when called on to play that way?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast, Bobby Manning, and Josue Pavon, linked up with Celtics Blog’s Noa Dalzell to talk it over. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Boston Celtics got their revenge against the Miami Heat

Now, Boston has time to rest, heal up, and prepare for whichever of the Magic or the Cavaliers emerge from their first round series.

The Boston Celtics got their revenge against the Miami Heat for beating them in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals on this past Wednesday (May 1). The Celtics eliminated the Heat from title contention in Game 5 of their 2024 NBA Eastern Conference first round series, beating Miami 118-84 in a convincing victory.

Now, Boston has some time to rest, heal up, and prepare for whichever of the Orlando Magic or the Cleveland Cavaliers emerge from their first round series. Hopefully, that matchup goes a full seven games, but do the Celtics have anything to worry about given Kristaps Porzingis’ calf injury?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look postgame. Check it out above!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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